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Central Oxford Kitchen

Project completed: 2023 | Location: Central Oxford | Property type: Victorian property ground floor renovation

Stuart and Claire’s kitchen sat in a dark, north-facing room at the front of their central Oxford home. It was cut off from the rest of the house and had no connection to their garden, which meant the space that should have been the heart of family life felt isolated and underused.

Their brief was to create a kitchen that would bring the family together. Our solution was to recommended relocating the kitchen to the back of the property and opening it up with large Crittall-style glazing. This allowed us to create a bright, open space that connects directly to the garden and forms a natural hub for everyday life. 

The new layout was planned around how the family actually uses the space. The kitchen, dining area and snug were designed as three distinct but connected zones, so the family could cook, work, relax and spend time with their children without being in separate rooms.

Throughout the build there were challenges with the construction phase, which the clients described as particularly stressful. We stayed closely involved, helping to resolve issues as they arose and ensuring the original design vision was protected, so the finished space matched what had been agreed.

The completed kitchen and snug have transformed how the family uses their home. Where they once dispersed into different rooms, they now gather in one light-filled space that supports everything from homework and music to cooking and entertaining.

The project shows how thoughtful space planning and strong design direction can do far more than improve how a home looks — it can change how it works for the people who live there.